Data Architect

Job Posting Title:

Data Architect

----

Hiring Department:

Data to Insights

----

Position Open To:

All Applicants

----

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

----

FLSA Status:

Exempt

----

Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

----

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2026

----

Location:

Texas

----

Job Details:

General Notes

The Data to Insights (D2I) Initiative at UT Austin is an investment to build a trusted, integrated, and scalable information infrastructure that transforms complex UT data into valued insights for data-informed decisions.

As a team member in the Data to Insights (D2I) Initiative, you will work with a cross-campus team using the latest cloud technologies to build a next-generation data ecosystem that will improve decision-making and advance the university’s mission. We believe the best ideas arise from collaborative work among colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences. If you’re the type of person who loves to learn and wants to know your work has meaning, you may find your career home at UT Austin. Please note this position is currently funded through August 31, 2026.

The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including: 

• Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) 
• Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options 
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays 
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) 
• Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) 
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses 
• Training and conference opportunities 
• Tuition assistance 
• Athletic ticket discounts 
• Access to UT Austin's libraries and museums 
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Capital Metro buses with staff ID card 

For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards 

This position requires you to maintain internet service and a mobile phone with voice and data plans to be used when required for work.

This position provides life/work balance with typically a 40-hour work week and travel generally limited to training (e.g., conferences/courses).

Purpose

The Data Architect will play a key role in designing, implementing, and scaling cloud-based data architectures within our AWS environment. As we implement Databricks, this role will focus on modernizing our unified data platform to enable advanced analytics, machine learning, and real-time data processing.

This position will collaborate closely with Data Engineering, DevOps, Data Modeling, Analytics, and Metadata teams to ensure scalable, efficient, and well-governed data solutions. Partnering with the Chief Enterprise Data Architect, you will drive data strategy, architecture, and implementation that align with our business

Responsibilities

Cloud Data Architecture

• Design and implement robust, scalable, and secure AWS-based data architectures with a focus on Databricks adoption.
• Partner with the Analytics and Data Modeling Group to ensure alignment on data modeling standards, schema design, and integration with data pipelines.
• Architect efficient ETL/ELT pipelines for data ingestion, transformation, and delivery, supporting operational and analytical workloads.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive data strategies that align with enterprise goals, enabling real-time and batch data processing.
• Create technical artifacts, standards, and architectural frameworks to address current and future business requirements.
• Ensure data quality, governance, and compliance throughout the data lifecycle.

Databricks Implementation and Leadership

• Lead the implementation and optimization of Databricks for advanced data engineering, analytics, and machine learning workloads.
• Drive the adoption of Delta Lake architectures for high-performance data pipelines.
• Develop and operationalize scalable architectures for collaborative notebooks, machine learning workflows, and real-time processing.

Collaboration and Innovation

• Collaborate with Data Engineering, DevOps, Data Modeling, Analytics, and Metadata teams to align on architectural decisions, standards, and processes.
• Serve as a technical advisor to stakeholders, effectively communicating complex data concepts to leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale data architectures in AWS environments.
• Strong expertise in data modeling, schema design, and database structures, with experience working closely with modeling teams.
• Hands-on experience with Databricks for big data processing, analytics, and machine learning.
• Proficiency in building ETL/ELT pipelines and working with data integration tools (e.g., AWS Glue, Informatica).
• Deep understanding of SQL, NoSQL, and data storage technologies (e.g., Redshift, RDS, S3).
• Experience ensuring data governance, quality, and compliance.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to optimize performance of cloud data solutions.
• Collaborative team player with excellent communication and leadership skills.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Certifications in AWS (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect) and Databricks (e.g., Databricks Certified Professional).
• Expertise in Delta Lake architecture design and implementation.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence).
• Proven experience leading data modernization initiatives across cross-functional teams.

Salary Range

$120,000 - $138,000

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Use of manual dexterity

• Up to 100% remote at employee discretion with office work environment also an option. Majority of team is located in Austin, TX, and working remotely with infrequent in-office presence.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

----

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

----

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

----

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

----

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

----

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

----

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

----

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

----

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.